Minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is disclosed which closely matches the end of a bone of a joint after that bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool in the minimally invasive orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints

ABSTRACT

A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is described which closely matches the end of a bone of a joint after that bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool in the minimally invasive orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints. The original ligament tensions and the varus and valgus alignments of the joint are preserved and the marrow cavities of bones are not invaded avoiding the dangers of blood clots, heart attacks, and other complications.

A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is disclosed which closely matches the end of a bone of a joint after that bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool in the minimally invasive orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints.

Related U.S. Provisional Patent Document

61/192,848 Sep. 23, 2008 Edwin Burton Hatch

Related U.S. Utility Patent Application Submissions

Appl. #12/381,566 Confirm. #8304 Mar. 12, 2009 Edwin Burton Hatch Appl. #12/383,202 Confirm. #8772 Mar. 21, 2009 Edwin Burton Hatch

References Cited

4,085,466 Apr. 25, 1978 John William Goodfellow, et. al. 4,502,161 Mar. 5, 1985 W. H. Wall 5,755,803 May 26, 1998 Timothy G. Haines, et. al. 6,344,059 Feb. 5, 2002 Gabor Krakovits 7,105,026 Sep. 12, 2006 Erin M. Johnson RE29,757 Sep. 12, 1978 Arthur Jacob Helfet

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In current orthopedic surgical total joint replacement, a large amount of bone tissue is typically removed from bone ends in preparation for the installation of a prosthesis. Coumadin is prescribed to thin the blood prior to a knee and hip replacement surgery where those prostheses have shafts that are driven into the femur to mount them to the femur. This drives crushed marrow into the blood stream where it can cause blood clots and heart attacks during and after surgery. In addition, when older patients fall they may break a femur because the tip of the shaft of a hip or knee prosthesis creates peak stress concentrations to occur in the middle of the weakened femur bone shaft. Resultant secondary surgical repair procedures and those required because of an accident or a patient's deteriorating condition may be technically difficult because of the large amount of bone removed during the original surgery. Current surgeries can result in problems of tendon tension and bone alignment with widely varied post-surgical recovery problems for the patient depending upon the skills of the surgeon and the quality of the surgical equipment available. To overcome the problem of the skills of the surgeon some hospitals now use computer driven robotic surgical equipment driven from X-Ray and MRI data which escalates the costs of these surgeries.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis construction is a radical departure from the massive-cast-knuckle type of prosthesis as is typically used in total knee replacement surgery. In this orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or other joint, an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool is used which has a culling head so configured as to match an average typical shape of the surface of a particular bone end. A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is created which closely matches the surface of the orthopedic resurfacing tool's cutting head and therefore closely matches the surface of the bone end resurfaced by that cutting head. This minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis is mounted onto the resurfaced bone end with mechanical attachments and using bone glue both as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis and the resurfaced bone end. Being fully supported, all anatomical loads born by the joint are uniformly distributed onto the minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis and to the resurfaced bone end. The minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis does not enter into the marrow of the bone avoiding the serious dangers of blood clots and heart attack and no broken bones will result from peak stress concentrations in the middle of the femur shaft due to prosthesis shafts driven into the marrow cavities. The patient's original tendon tensions and bone alignments are preserved making recovery from surgery more natural. This type of orthopedic surgery can be performed under minimum surgical conditions without elaborate surgical equipment. Time in surgery and costs of these surgical procedures are reduced, and surgical results will be more uniform and satisfactory. Secondary surgical repair procedures required because of an accident or a patient's deteriorating orthopedic condition will also present less technically difficulty.

The invention as here in taught applies to the orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of all bone ends in all anatomical joints. However, for purposes of teaching this invention, the embodiments described and illustrated here in relate to the knee joint. It is to be understood that no limitation of the scope of this invention is intended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents, for reference purposes, a front sectional view of a knee joint, without the patella present, showing the distal end of the femur [1] drilled with mounting holes [2], a minimally-thick metal orthopedic femur prosthesis [3] having mounting pins [4] attached, the proximal end of the tibia [5] drilled with mounting holes [6], and a minimally-thick metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7] having mounting pins [8] attached, and which minimally-thick metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7] is affixed to a tibia meniscus [9].

FIG. 2 presents, for reference purposes, a side sectional view of the patella [10] of a knee joint with mounting holes [11] drilled into its posterior surface and showing a minimally-thick metal orthopedic patella prosthesis [12] having mounting pins [13] attached, and which minimally-thick metal orthopedic patella prosthesis [12] is affixed to a patella meniscus [14].

FIG. 3 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a minimally-thick stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7], which has mounting pins [15] spin welded to it, and with this assemblage mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the mounting pins [15] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 4 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a minimally-thick stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7], which has threaded mounting pins [17] welded to it, and which assemblage is mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the threaded mounting pins [17] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 5 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a minimally-thick stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7], which has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it, and which assemblage is mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 6 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a minimally-thick stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [7] and which assemblage is mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], by means of the screws [19] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 7 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [20] and which assemblage is mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of tabs [21] welded to the tibia prosthesis [20] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 8 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [22] and which assemblage is mounted onto the proximal end of the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of tabs [23] formed out of the tibia prosthesis [22] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 9 presents a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [24], which has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it, and which is further joined and retained to the stamped orthopedic metal tibia prosthesis [24] by means of a peripheral edge [25] formed from the stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [24], and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 10 presents a plan view and a front sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [26], which has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it, and which tibia meniscus [9] is further joined and retained to the stamped orthopedic metal tibia prosthesis [26], by means of tabs [27] formed out of the tibia prosthesis [26], and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 11 presents a plan view and sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [28] which are further joined together and retained by means of holes [29] punched into the Stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [28], which stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [28] has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it, and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 12 presents a plan view and sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [30] which are further joined and retained by means of metal granules [31] brazed onto the stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [30], which prosthesis [30] has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it, and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 13 presents a sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [32], which are further joined and retained by means of an orthopedic metal screen [33] brazed onto the stamped sheet metal orthopedic tibia prosthesis [32], and which prosthesis [32] has grooved mounting pins [18] riveted to it and, and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the grooved mounting pins [18] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 14 presents a sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a cast orthopedic metal tibia prosthesis [34], having integral mounting pins [35], and which assemblage is mounted onto the tibia [5], which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the integral mounting pins [35] and bone glue [16].

FIG. 15 presents plan view and a sectional view showing a tibia meniscus [9] affixed to a forged orthopedic metal tibia prosthesis [36], having integral mounting pins [37] attached, which assemblage is mounted to the tibia [5] which has mounting holes [6] drilled into its proximal end, by means of the integral mounting pins [37] and bone glue [16].

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or other joint, an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool is used which has a cutting head so configured as to match an average typical shape of the surface of a particular bone end. A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is formed which closely matches the surface of the orthopedic resurfacing tool's cutting head and therefore closely matches the surface of the bone end resurfaced by that cutting head. Because patient's are of different sizes, several sizes of cutting heads and surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prostheses may be required for each bone end of each joint. This unique matched-surface relationship between the resurfaced bone end and its surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prostheses provides the bone end with a minimally-thick new wear surface and retains the patient's original tendon tensions and varus and valgus bone alignments. This minimally-thick surface-matching prosthesis does not enter into the marrow of the bone avoiding the serious dangers of blood clots and heart attack. Broken bones will not result from peak stress concentrations in the middle of the femur shaft caused by prosthesis shafts driven into the marrow cavities. The surgery is simplified and is less invasive and the skills of the surgeon become less critical. This type of orthopedic surgery can be successfully performed under minimum surgical conditions without elaborate surgical equipment. The time and cost of the surgical procedure are reduced. Surgical results will be more uniform and satisfactory with a shorter postoperative recovery. And, secondary orthopedic surgical repair procedures required because of a failed prior surgery or due to an accident or the patient's deteriorating condition may be less technically difficult. 

1. A surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic stamped from a sheet metal form of an orthopedic metal alloy, selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of mechanical attachments using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 where in the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis has a thickness between 0.030 of an inch and 0.300 of an inch.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of grooved mounting pins which are spin-welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of threaded mounting bolts welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of screws extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting tabs which are welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 8. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting tabs formed from the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are bent toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end.
 9. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has an peripheral edge which is bent away from the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end which is used to further retain an artificial meniscus affixed to that said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis.
 10. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has mounting tabs bent away from the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus.
 11. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has holes punched into it which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus.
 12. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has orthopedic metal alloy granules, thermally fused onto its surface which is distal from the said resurfaced bone end, which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus.
 13. The combination as set forth in claim 2 where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which has an orthopedic woven metal screen, spot welded to its surface which is distal from the said resurfaced bone end, which is used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus.
 14. A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is cast from a suitable orthopedic metal alloy selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis has integral mounting pins which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of its integral mounting pins using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end.
 15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 where in the said minimally-thick cast metal orthopedic prosthesis has a minimum thickness of 0.030 of an inch and a maximum thickness of 0.300 of an inch.
 16. A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is forged A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is cast from a suitable orthopedic metal alloy selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis has integral mounting pins which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of its integral mounting pins using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end.
 17. The combination as set forth in claim 16 where in the said minimally-thick cast metal orthopedic prosthesis has a minimum thickness of 0.030 of an inch and a maximum thickness of 0.300 of an inch. While the invention here in described in the specifications and illustrated in the drawings are in reference to the knee joint, it is to be understood that this invention applies to the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other anatomical joints. It will be further understood to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements there of without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention and that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims. 